Living the dream...

[geem]

I decided to retire at 53, several friends thought I was mad. We got rid of expensive cars, downsized house and moved the boat away from UK. Had to self fund from savings until pensions kicked in but, I've already had 20 years of retirement, most of it pottering around on the boat. A couple of friends who were going to do it but wanted a few more years income, never got around to it.

We took a sabbatical from work for my fiftieth birthday. The plan was to do another Atlantic circuit. ( we did one for my 40th as well). Once we got to the caribbean we decided not to go back. We flew home, sorted out our affairs then flew back to the boat. The last six years have been the best years of my life.

 

[Gixer]

You guys are so inspirational.

 

[Graham376]

You guys are so inspirational.

There are very wide variations in how people do it, some are full time liveaboards who have sold up everything to buy the boat and live aboard full time, some cruising the world, others just living in EU marinas rarely moving. Then there are those of us who just live aboard for part of the year, sailing more local areas, in our case Portugal, SW Spain down to Gib and across the Straits to Smir and Ceuta. Not interested in doing long passages, Biscay to LaCoruna for me was a bit like watching paint drying, much preferred the shorter LaRochelle to Gijon trip, lots to see along north Spanish coast. Have nosed into the Med but not keen on concrete jungles and all day breakfasts. No rights or wrongs, just plan to do what suits you.

 

[duncan99210]

When I hit my sell by date in the army (55 and a bit) some 11 years ago, we used my gratuity to buy a boat and did the metaphorical sail south until the butter melts, then turned left. We lived on board full time for 5 1/2 years: since then we’ve lived in Cornwall in the winter and spent the summers in Greek waters on the boat. Wouldn’t change anything except possibly spending more time on the boat and less in UK (don’t know how that‘ll work from next year.....).
Before we set off we read a number of books, some useful others not so much. The major lesson we took from them was things to take with you, most of which we’ve found useful as time has gone on. Less useful was the advice about finances and houses: the advice tended to be too personal and frankly not much help.
You do need to keep a “foot on the ground” in UK to keep the bank, NHS and tax man happy unless you can move everything offshore. Even though we now spend half the year in UK, all our “official” mail still goes to my daughter’s address: means she can open stuff during the summer and scan anything that needs immediate attention.
But the one lesson above all that we’d pass on is to do it now. Don’t wait. We’ve seen too many friends loose their health and thus they’ve had to abandon plans or abort them part way through. Just do it! Don’t over plan, get out there, learn as you go and remember you can always come back if you find it doesn’t work....

 

[jonic]

But the one lesson above all that we’d pass on is to do it now. Don’t wait. We’ve seen too many friends loose their health and thus they’ve had to abandon plans or abort them part way through. Just do it! Don’t over plan, get out there, learn as you go and remember you can always come back if you find it doesn’t work....

This is so important. Now that I am back, and broker long-distance cruisers for a living, all too often I am asked to sell boats for people who didn't finally get away due to unexpected health problems. ironically when people are away, they seem to stay healthier too.

 

[Clancy Moped]

Tip number 2, Make sure you have functioning livers before you set off.

 

[Birdseye]

Guys, are there any particular skills you have learnt and wished you had before? doesn't have to be boat related.
Dave

How to cope with boredom without using booz!

We set off for the Med in our mid 50s. Day sailed down the French coast and overwintered in N spain. Came back the following year because we both found that boating 24/7 lost its interest after a while and the other cruisers we met seemed to live a lifestyle based on boozy socialising. Put simply, there were other toys to play with and life wasnt just about boats. Sure it was good fun for a month or two but longer than that wasnt for us.

You may be different but check first. You can easily buy a particularly good value british boat in ports in the Canaries and the Windies thanks to people learning that their long yearned for sailing lifestyle doesnt suit them.

 

[ryanroberts]

Came back the following year because we both found that boating 24/7 lost its interest after a while and the other cruisers we met seemed to live a lifestyle based on boozy socialising.

Flotilla skipper I had in Greece put it something like (in cockney) re retired cruisers "They pickle their f*cking heads"

 

[michael_w]

Go for it! A one year Atlantic circuit is achievable without completely burning your bridges. It's also a good litmus test if you want to go further afield.

SWMBO and I have done it twice in two very different boats. A Contessa 33 (not a 32!) and an Oyster Heritage. Sailing under the Verazzano Narrows Bridge and into New York Harbor is a bucket list item.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Flotilla skipper I had in Greece put it something like (in cockney) re retired cruisers "They pickle their f*cking heads"

We find there very few people who hit the bottle , we have 20 odd boat with people on board that's at less 40 people and there only one and it happen to be a women , if any thing we drink much less unless we have people on board .
What we do find is solo sailor do fall into that box .

 

[jonic]

Sailing under the Verazzano Narrows Bridge and into New York Harbor is a bucket list item.

Yup! Here's us and my SWMBO at the wheel...

 

[steve yates]

Looking forward to the first zoom call from a rolly anchorage, need a lamp swinging behind my head.

No you don't, you'll be silhouetted cos of the backlight

 

[Gixer]

Duncan, thank you for the detailed response.
I've seen many people who's plans have been to sail of into 'the sunset' and its never happened due the heath, etc. I know a guy who bought a boat in kit form to build it and then head off. 15 years later its still in the yard and his heath is failing, breaks my heart

That's a good point Birdseye, its a really different lifestyle. I've got a number of years to think it through but I guess there's only one way to find out if it suits me though...

Sailing into New York, wow. Never even thought of doing that, TBH the idea scares the crap out of me...

 

[PHN]

Having a job (that I like) with more or less the usual number of holidays I take a different approach. Yes, I can cast off and say goodbye to everyone, but it is my choice not to do that. I built a sailing network that brought me all over the world from the Arctic to the Antarctic and a lot in between.

If you want to experience the joy of sailing before permanent retirement I recommend to do something similar and build a network with sailing opportunities of your flavour. If you like it, you can expand your sailing time. If you don't like it, there is plenty time to find something else!

Sailing Tall Ships

Hubbard Glacier, Alaska

Magdalene Fjorden, Svalbard

 

[Gixer]

Thanks PHN,
To be honest I'd love to do a tall ship experience, I keep looking at this website
View all voyages | Classic Sailing
The problem I have at the moment is justifying spending the money on a holiday for myself when it could go towards a family holiday. The tall ship thing doesn't really interest them, this could be an alternative when the kids grow up though.
Thanks again.

 

[PHN]

Thanks PHN,
To be honest I'd love to do a tall ship experience, I keep looking at this website
View all voyages | Classic Sailing
The problem I have at the moment is justifying spending the money on a holiday for myself when it could go towards a family holiday. The tall ship thing doesn't really interest them, this could be an alternative when the kids grow up though.
Thanks again.

There is more than one view to that. First of all I do understand that you prefer spending money and holiday/quality time with your familiy. On the other hand I know lots of sailers (both man and women) who sail while their partners and kids are doing other things due to difference of interest.

You probably know the story "if you postpone until later it will never happen" which has many versions.

If the tall ship experience really is your dream then maybe you can work something out that everyone is happy with.

 

[Gixer]

100% as things stand at the moment its time with the kids that win, they are only 8 and 12.
As they get older and start to have their own lives I'm sure i'll get time to myself which is what this thread is all about, having a plan or at least an idea